DRAFT MINUTES OF THE DALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 22nd JULY 2026
Present: Councillors N. Harding (Chair), J. Gray (Vice-Chair) M. Gray-Smith, P. Ridley
Mrs. I. Marchant (Parish Clerk/RFO)
County Councillor – M. Ashton
District Councillor – N. McLaren
Members of the public
19th August 2026
1. Disclosure of interests
None declared.
2. Dispensations
None requested.
3. Apologies for absence
None required.
4. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting
RESOLVED: that the draft minutes of the meeting held on 19.05.26 be confirmed as being an accurate record of the proceedings. Councillor Gray proposed and Councillor Ridley seconded, the voting was unanimous. The minutes were signed by the Chair.
5. Open Forum
5.1 County Council Report (ESCC) – Councillor Mark Ashton
- Councillor Ashton introduced himself to DPC and their residents and was welcomed by the meeting.
- He said that Dallington is a beautiful village and has a great pub (The Swan).
- A scrutiny committee is looking at the current highways contract.
5.2 District Council report (/RDC) – Councillor Nichola McLaren
- The Overview and Scrutiny Committee are looking into RDC’s Local Enforcement Plan. Rother Association of Local Councils (RALC) will collect responses.
AGREED: to bring forward items 12. (Planning), 13. (Enforcement) and 14. (Highways)
12. Planning
12.1 RR/2025/1505/P – Sugar Loaf Yard, Brightling Road
Proposed change of use to general storage (Class B8).
There have been many comments by residents on this application.
- A scaffolding storage yard is not suitable for this area; it is extremely noisy and an eyesore in the middle of the HW National Landscape.
- Many trees have been chopped down.
- Do RDC have a “scaffolding policy,” as others do, due to the excessive noise.
- Residents to contact RDC’s Environmental Health Team.
- Many HGVs using site.
- Manufacturing picnic benches and selling on site.
- There is a sawmill operating, contributing to the excessive noise.
- Residents to carry out noise impact assessments.
- DPC are to send a formal enforcement complaint to RDC Enforcement.
- DPC objected strongly to this application in September 2025.
Post meeting note: RDC have now granted planning permission for this application, with conditions for opening times. These conditions and noise will be carefully monitored by DPC and residents.
12.2 No other planning matters for discussion.
13. Enforcement
13.1 No Dallington items on RDC’s most recent enforcement list.
13.2 No other enforcement matters for discussion.
14. Highways/Rights of Way
14.1 Councillor Gray will continue working with residents to minimise the dangers at the B2096/Brightling Road/South Lane junction (Woods Corner). COUNCILLOR GRAY
14.2 Potholes, verges and drainage issues continue.
6. Grant request from Dallington PCC
RESOLVED: to grant this request for the sum of £750. The Chair proposed and Councillor Gray seconded, the voting was unanimous.
7. Dark Skies Project
AGREED: to defer this item until the DPC September meeting.
8. Data Audit (Assertion 10)
RESOLVED: to adopt the DPC Data Audit, as presented by the Clerk, as a formal DPC policy. The Chair proposed and Councillor Gray-Smith seconded, the voting was unanimous.
9. Local Government Reorganisation
AGREED: that the Chair will respond on behalf of DPC regarding NACs. CHAIR
10. DPC transition to.gov.uk
AGREED: for the Clerk to go ahead with DPC’s transition to .gov for emails and domain/website. Uniserve will project manage this and EasySpace will be DPC’s registrar. CLERK
11. Legionella assessment DRG pavilion
The Chair is to arrange an assessment. CHAIR
15. Finance
15.1 Bank balances at 30.06.26
- DPC deposit account – £14,426.60
- DPC current account – £2,151.55
- DRG current account – £362.35
15.2 RESOLVED: to approve the following payments. Councillor Gray proposed and Councillor Ridley seconded, the voting was unanimous.
- Clerk salary/HO Jun/Jul 2026 – £1,151.00
- Uniserve IT support – £23.40.
- Satswana DPO service 2026-27 – £90.00
- Pavilion fire inspection 2026 – £270.00
- DRG top-up – £200.00
- * UserWay subscription 2026-27 – £369.76
- * Amazon PA refreshments – £55.03
- * ICO registration 2026-27 – £52.00
- * Turtle Engineering 2 defibb cases – £888.00
* already paid
15.3 RESOLVED: to approve the first quarter accounts at 30.06.26 as presented by the Clerk. Councillor Ridley proposed and Councillor Gray seconded. The voting was unanimous.
15.4 The UT mandate for Councillor Gray-Smith will be signed at the September meeting.
16. Dates of next meetings
- 15.09.26 – Full Council Meeting
- 20.10.26 – Full Council Meeting (provisional only)